Kd's Restaurant / Legacy Grill

[jbkrems]

Why does it appear additional comments were deleted in this thread?

[OSUMom]

Anyone think this restaurant is going to survive? Can't see it myself.

[stile99]

So....

So.....what, exactly? I am entirely unaware of anything preventing him from owning/having his name on a restaurant here.

[OSUMom]

So.....what, exactly? I am entirely unaware of anything preventing him from owning/having his name on a restaurant here.

Other than people not going to it?

[Bill Robertson]

It's a Hal Smith restaurant. I don't know what kind of agreement there is to use KDs name but I would think the Hal Smith attorneys left an out for just such a situation.

[dankrutka]

Probably should just replace it with a different Hal Smith concept. No chance it can stay.

[catch22]

It's a Hal Smith restaurant. I don't know what kind of agreement there is to use KDs name but I would think the Hal Smith attorneys left an out for just such a situation.

Wasn't it reported that KD did in fact have an ownership stake in that specific location? This would be different than the normal HSRG where they own 100%. Perhaps I am wrong.

[stile99]

Other than people not going to it?

Oh, how quickly OKC has gone from "We love you, please stay" to "don't let the door hit you on the way out". Why would people not go? If they liked the food/ambiance/location last week, none of that has changed. Mickey Mantle's seems to be doing quite well, and he doesn't play here either. Or anywhere, for that matter.

[Tundra]

Wasn't it reported that KD did in fact have an ownership stake in that specific location? This would be different than the normal HSRG where they own 100%. Perhaps I am wrong.

All of Hal smith joints are owned or financed by multiples of different investors.....

[kevinpate]

Probably should just replace it with a different Hal Smith concept. No chance it can stay.

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

[dankrutka]

Oh, how quickly OKC has gone from "We love you, please stay" to "don't let the door hit you on the way out". Why would people not go? If they liked the food/ambiance/location last week, none of that has changed. Mickey Mantle's seems to be doing quite well, and he doesn't play here either. Or anywhere, for that matter.

You're kidding, right? The restaurant existed solely as a by-product of KD's role on the Thunder. That was the brand. He left. Of course it'll change. KD left, not the fans.

[Pete]

Remember, the Hal Smith group quickly rebranded the old Wes Welker's on Memorial Road when for whatever reason, that sponsorship / partnership did not work out.

Hal is the the most experienced restaurateur in all of OKC and I'm sure he and his investors have had a contingency plan from the day this deal was hatched.

Would be a good spot for something like Red Rock Canyon.

[Bill Robertson]

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

He isn't from here like Mickey Mantle. He played here and now he's not. Now it would be like Curry, Thompson or Greene having a restaurant here. Not patronizing it but that's just me.

[stile99]

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

Dang it, where's that like button?

[chuck5815]

KD's only fans are fair weather Sooner fans? Who woulda thunk it.

Speaking of fair-weather fans, Gallagher-Iba Arena has looked pretty empty the past, few years

[Pete]

Let's please not turn this into an OU / OSU pissing match.

Back to subject.

[SoonerDave]

Can't fathom any reason a KD restaurant would continue to operate. Certainly Hal Smith has a provision in their operating agreement covering what happens if KD left the team. I am betting the place is shuttered/rebranded within 30-60 days. They may have some commitments to meet/clean up, but the place can't continue. Let's be honest - I liked the place, but I have no desire to patronize the place any longer. That makes me fairweather? Eh, so be it. KD isn't gonna miss my twice-a-year visit any more than he's gonna miss OKC in general, which is clearly not at all.

[Pete]

Has there ever been a restaurant that thrived after it's namesake athlete left for another town?

No way they plan to keep operating this place as KD's for much longer.

I believe they have already taken down their Twitter account.

[SoonerDave]

Has there ever been a restaurant that thrived after it's namesake athlete left for another town?

No way they plan to keep operating this place as KD's for much longer.

I believe they have already taken down their Twitter account.

Yup....it was gone after some nasty reaction to a poorly timed July 4 promotional tweet about coming to KD's and having a chicken dinner.....

[stile99]

I really can't believe I'm the only one who doesn't think this is the end of the world. Worst case scenario, they're going to change the sign out front and related logo(s). This place won't be 'shuttered' for more than two days max, assuming they even close it that long. They'll change the name to Westbrook's, or if they are smart, they'll take a look at the attitude of this city the last not even 12 hours and go with something "non-denominational".

Kevin Durant is gone. The Thunder WILL continue. The restaurant WILL continue. Some changes will happen to both, that's obvious. But people, seriously. The sky is still there, I promise you. It's not falling. Not even a little.

[Pete]

When they converted Wes Welker's to Pub W, they were closed for 2-3 months.

[Urbanized]

I can't imagine they didn't have a contingency plan. And KD's interest was compensation for using his name. I doubt KD invested a dime other than signing his name on the line. I was at the groundbreaking, and KD was asked directly if he was an owner and if so what percentage, and he was completely unsure (not as media-savvy in those days). Hal had to step up and after he and investors shared looks he said "25%."

It'll do fine as a different brand, and I'm sure that will be quite soon.

[chuck5815]

I can't imagine they didn't have a contingency plan. And KD's interest was compensation for using his name. I doubt KD invested a dime other than signing his name on the line. I was at the groundbreaking, and KD was asked directly if he was an owner and if so what percentage, and he was completely unsure (not as media-savvy in those days). Hal had to step up and after he and investors shared looks he said "25%."

It'll do fine as a different brand, and I'm sure that will be quite soon.

If KD still owns that 25%, you have to think the HSG buys him out immediately and then goes out of its way to publicize that KD has no continuing interest in the new restaurant. Even with the rebranding, some folks won't support it if there is any possibility that KD is still involved.

[Easy180]

Pretty sure Singler's is not on the contingency name list

[Urbanized]

If KD still owns that 25%, you have to think the HSG buys him out immediately and then goes out of its way to publicize that KD has no continuing interest in the new restaurant. Even with the rebranding, some folks won't support it if there is any possibility that KD is still involved.

I'm sure there was already verbiage in the partnership agreement that triggered a buyout if/when he left OKC. That is standard. Doubtful it will be drawn out process, either, as it is such a tiny portion of KD's portfolio.

Besides, his portion is a minority portion anyway. The other shareholders can essentially do what they want with the place without his permission, as long as it doesn't violate terms of their agreement.